Mardi Grass - Fat Tuesday

Mardi Gras Traditions is about musical parades, food, floats and excitement. During the parades, people use purple, green and gold beads and colorful masquerades.

The term “Mardi Gras” (French word) means “Fat Tuesday”and refers to the Tuesday before Lent. It is called "Fat" or "Great" because it's associated with great food,  KING CAKE and parties. Lent  starts the day after Mardi Gras with Ash Wednesday 

Ingredients

  

Easy Recipe: http://www.keiladawson.com/easy-pillsbury-king-cake-recipe/

A king cake is a type of cake associated with the Feast of Epiphany celebrated twelve days after Christmas or related with the pre-Lenten celebrations of Mardi Gras. 

Activities for Mardi Gras: 

1. Create a Masquerade with any recycle supplies you have at home. 

2. Make a King Cake.

3. Coloring page.  

4. Children Books for Lent👉

https://charlotteriggle.com/easter-
picture-books-lenten-journey/

"Laissez les bons temps rouler" 

It means, Let the good times roll!

¿Qué es Mardi Gras?

El término "Mardi Gras" (palabra francesa) significa "Martes gordo" y se refiere al martes antes de Cuaresma. Se llama "Grasa" o "Gran" porque se asocia con la buena comida y festivales. Mardi Gras es una tradición similar a los Carnavales de Rio, Barranquilla, New Orleans y todos los países que celebran con desfiles de carrozas y bailes tradicionales antes del Miércoles de Ceniza cuando inicia la Cuaresma.  Usualmente se hace la Rosca de Reyes o de Mardi Gras/Carnival.

Actividades para niños: Hoja de colorear. 

Visita: https://coloringcafe.com/coloring-pages/page/8/

Actividades de Cuaresma:

https://luzdelmes.blogspot.com/2017/02/40-days-and-40-activities-for-lent-2017.html

Recetas para la Cuaresma:

https://luzdelmes.blogspot.com/2019/02/recetas-luzdelmes-cuaresma-lent-recipes.html

                              Receta: http://www.keiladawson.com/easy-pillsbury-king-cake-recipe/

¡Mañana es Miércoles de Ceniza!

http://luzdelmes.blogspot.com/2019/02/ash-wednesday-miercoles-de-ceniza.html

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator

Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards, Author’s Talk

St. Valentine & more...San Valentín y más

Each year on February 14^th, many people exchange cards, with their special “valentine," but  What is Valentine? It is a day to celebrate love and friendship.

Why is called Valentine? It comes from a Christian martyr from the 5^th century and Roman Traditions.

Who is St. Valentine? The Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine, all of whom were martyred.

About the Legend? Valentine was a Bishop in the third century in Rome. Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape from Roman prisons during Emperor Claudius. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote a letter signed “From your Valentine,” an expression that is still in use today. Celebrate LOVE Month 💗

More details visit: 

http://luzdelmes.blogspot.com/2016/02/valentines-day-celebrate-traditions.html

Valentine’s Day Activities for kids

1. Coloring Page - download here:

 http://www.catholicplayground.com/st-valentine-coloring-page-february-14th/

2. Personalized Valentine’s Place-mat. 

My favorite Valentine’s Activities my children made at Elementary School:

PLACEMAT INSTRUCTIONS

💗 Trace hearts with color pencil on a heavy paper stock

💗 Color the inside with different color crayons.
💗 If possible, laminated the paper & Round corners for safety 

2. Create a Lantern Poem: Example

Lantern Love
Feel
Blissful
To be loved
Yet better give
Love!
@Mejia ~Poems, Thoughts and More ~

San Valentin

Cada año el 14 de febrero, muchas personas intercambian tarjetas, con su especial "San Valentín", pero  ¿Qué es San Valentín? Es un día para celebrar amor y amistad.

La leyenda dice que San Valentín fue un obispo en el tercer siglo en Roma. San Valentín fue asesinado por intentar ayudar a los cristianos a huir de las prisiones durante el Tiempo Romano del emperador Claudius. Antes de su muerte, se dice que escribió una carta firmada: "De tu Valentín," una expresión que hoy en día es muy usada en éste día. 

💗 Celebraremos el Mes del AMOR

Con tarjetas, poemas, chocolates, o pequeños actos de amor. 💗

Poemas y Reflexiones:

 www.luzdelmes.com

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: 

www.luzdelmes.com 

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator

Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards, Author’s Talk

Lourdes: Expression of Faith ~ Expresión de fe

Virgen de Lourdes pray for us!

During my two visits to The Lourdes Shrine, France (1988-1989), a small market town lying in the foothills of the Pyrenees, there is a recognized and famous site of the Marian apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes. The events occurred in 1858 to a humble firstborn daughter girl of a miller; Bernadette Soubirous (7 January 1844 – 16 April 1879). 
She is venerated as a Christian Saint in the Catholic Church. The feast day is on February 11^th.  

In the visit to this Shrine, we spent most of the time in the Basilica and Grotto where masses and confessions in different languages are scheduled.  After lunch, we stopped over the humble house of Bernadette located at Rue 2.

~Our Lady of Lourdes~

I admired the simplicity of this small place where the whole family lives in a modest way. The house included a mill, kitchen, Bernadette’s bedroom, various objects, and photographs of the time.

~Bernadette’s parents house, 1988~

At night, we prayed the Rosary in different languages as a universal way to unify the Catholic faith. During the continuous prayers to Jesus and Mary, there was a procession with candles to gather around the Grotto. Other members of my group went to the Healing Pools where families carried the illness’s relatives to be cured. A unique expression of faith.

Marvelous expression of faith and hope!

~Grotto, 1988-1989~

Extract from "Voyage Recollection"

Durante mis dos visitas al Santuario de Lourdes, Francia (1988-1989), una pequeña ciudad situada en las estribaciones de los Pirineos, hay un sitio reconocido y famoso por las apariciones marianas de Nuestra Señora de Lourdes. Los acontecimientos ocurrieron en 1858 a una humilde niña primogénita de un molinero; Bernadette Soubirous (7 de enero de 1844 – 16 de abril de 1879).  Es venerada como una santa cristiana en la Iglesia Católica. La fiesta de Lourdes se celebra cada 11 de febrero.

Disfrute de la sencillez del lugar. Por las noches, orábamos el Rosario en diferentes idiomas como una forma universal de unificar la fe católica. Durante las continuas oraciones a Jesús y María, había una procesión con velas para reunirse alrededor de la Gruta. Otros miembros de mi grupo fueron a las piscinas de sanación donde las familias llevaban a curar a los parientes de la enfermedad. Una expresión única de fe.

 Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator

Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards

St. Blaise ~ Día de San Blas

Today, I received the Saint Blaise Blessing. Do you know what is it?

Photo Courtesy
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Blessing_of_the_Throats

In many places on February 3rd. the day of his feast, the blessing of St. Blaise is given. The priest uses two candles, blessed on the feast of the Presentation of the Lord "candlemas", held in a crossed position over the heads or touched on the throat with them.

I received the following blessing:"May Almighty God at the intercession of St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr, preserve you from infections of the throat and from all other afflictions." Then the priest makes the sign of the cross over the faithful.

Who is Saint Blaise?

In The Acts of St. Blaise, written in Greek, includes the medieval legend in the Grande Encyclopédie as follows:

“Blaise, who had studied philosophy in his youth, was a doctor in Sebaste in Armenia, the city of his birth, who exercised his art with miraculous ability, good-will, and piety. When the bishop of the city died, he was chosen to succeed him, with the acclamation of all the people. His holiness was manifest through many miracles: from all around, people came to him to find cures for their spirit and their body; even wild animals came in herds to receive his blessing.

In 316, Agricola, the governor of Cappadocia and of Lesser Armenia, having arrived in Sebastia at the order of the emperor Licinius to kill the Christians, arrested the bishop. As he was being led to jail, a mother set her only son, choking to death of a fish-bone, at his feet, and the child was cured straight away. Regardless, the governor, unable to make Blaise renounce his faith, beat him with a stick, ripped his flesh with iron combs, and beheaded him.

Celebrate Traditions! Celebrate Faith!

El 3 de febrero se celebra la fiesta de San Blas con una hermosa tradición, la bendición de la garganta. Para ello, el sacerdote consagra dos velas el día anterior, y luego coloca las velas en una posición cruzada en la garganta de la persona que está siendo bendecida. El sacerdote dice la siguiente bendición: “A través de la intercesión de San Blas, obispo y mártir, que Dios te libre de las dolencias de la garganta y de todo otro mal. En el nombre del Padre, y del Hijo, y. del Espíritu Santo. Amén”.

Se dice que San Blas un médico, que murió como un mártir de la fe en el año 316, bajo el reinado de Licinio; y que poco después de su muerte, fue aclamado y venerado como un santo. 

¡Celebremos nuestras tradiciones!

Poemas y Reflexiones: www.luzdelmes.com

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator

Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards, Author’s Talk

Lady of Candelaria ~ El día de la Candelaria

Our Lady of Candelaria or Feast of Candelaria remind us of the appearance of the Virgin of la Candelaria in Tenerife, in the southwest of Spain at the beginning of the XV century.

SOME FACTS:

1.    Celebrations most commonly take place on Groundhog's Day on February 2^nd 

2.   Celebrated on the official presentation of Jesus to the Temple of Jerusalem, 40 days after Virgin Mary has been cleansed from the delivery, following the Old Testament’s law.
3.   In Europe, the Presentation was celebrated with processions and candles to be blessed after mass. Over time, the feasr became the " Candlemas"
4.   In Mexico, it is customary that the person who got “The baby Jesus” in the “Rosca de Reyes” has to make tamales or atole, both corn-based dishes. This tradition also carries Pre-Hispanic roots; February 2nd was the eleventh day of the first month on the Aztec calendar.

Celebrate Traditions!

 Fiesta de la Candelaria

La celebración de nuestra Señora de la Candelaria o fiesta de la Candelaria nos recuerdan la aparición de la Virgen de la Candelaria en Tenerife, en el sudoeste de España a principios del siglo XV.

HECHOS:

1.   La celebración más comúnmente ocurren en el 2 de febrero.

2.   Se celebra la presentación oficial de Jesús en el templo de Jerusalén, cuarenta días después de que María Virgen ha sido purificada después del nacimiento de Jesús cumpliendo con la ley del Antiguo Testamento. 

3.   En Europa, el día de la Presentación era celebrado con velas en procesión y se le llama la Misa de Velas.

4.   En México, es habitual que la persona que le salió el "Niño Jesús" en la "Rosca de Reyes" tiene que hacer tamales o atole, dos platos a base de maíz. Esta tradición también tiene raíces Prehispánicas; el 2 de febrero era el undécimo día del primer mes del calendario azteca.
5. Éste año es Super Especial : 02022020 

La tamaliza

Photo Courtesy: http://www.quericavida.com/celebraciones-y-dias-festivos/ano-nuevo-dia-de-reyes/la-rica-tamaliza-del-dia-de-la-candelaria

 ¡Celebremos Nuestras Tradiciones!

Poemas y Reflexiones: www.luzdelmes.com

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator

Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards, Author’s Talk

Welcome February ~ Bienvenido Febrero

 

Reflections by Maritza Martínez Mejía

February is a month dedicated to Love, but what is Love? It is a deliberate act of my will. "Love is patient and kind; it is not jealous or proud." ~1 Cor. 13:4~

Let's celebrate Love!

                  

 Love

Feel

Blissful

To be loved

Yet better give

 Love!

@Mejía2015

---

Febrero es un mes dedicado al Amor, pero ¿qué es Amor? Es un acto deliberado de mi voluntad. "El amor es paciente y servicial; no es orgulloso o celoso."~1 Cor.13:4~

¡Celebremos al Amor!

Poemas y Reflexiones: www.luzdelmes.com

ACTIVIDADES GRATIS EN: www.luzdelmes.com

Maritza Martínez Mejía

Mother, Author, Educator and Translator

Member: FWA, SFWA, SCBWI, Board of Advisors MCBD, Delegado ANLMI
FREE Reading Activities visit: www.luzdelmes.com

Received Crystal Apple, VCB Poetry, Latino Book Awards, Author’s Talk